Bertrand Piccard

Dr. Bertrand Piccard (born March 1, 1958) is a Swiss psychiatrist and balloonist born in Lausanne, Vaud canton, on March 1, 1958. His grandfather Auguste Piccard, and father Jacques Piccard were noted balloonists and inventors.

Related Topics:
March 1 - 1958 - Swiss - Psychiatrist - Balloonist - Lausanne - Vaud - Auguste Piccard - Jacques Piccard - Inventor

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He is a lecturer and supervisor at the Swiss Society for Medical Hypnosis.

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On 1 March 1999 Piccard and Brian Jones set off in the balloon Breitling Orbiter 3 from Château d’Oex in Switzerland on the non-stop balloon circumnavigation. They landed in Egypt after a 45,755 kilometre flight lasting 19 days, 21 hours and 47 minutes. In recognition of this accomplishment, he received the Harmon Trophy.

Related Topics:
1 March - 1999 - Brian Jones - Balloon - ''Breitling Orbiter 3'' - Circumnavigation - Egypt - Harmon Trophy

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In 2004, he co-announced a project, in cooperation with the EPFL, for a solar-powered long-range glider named Solar Impulse. The project is dubbed "Une grande aventure humaine" ("a great human adventure"), and is the feature article in the September 2005 issue of Popular Mechanics. Piccard plans to begin construction in 2007, and conduct short test flights in 2008. The plausibility of such an achievement remains questionable by some experts.

Related Topics:
EPFL - Solar Impulse - Popular Mechanics

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He is reputed for his flamboyant declarations, using expressions such as "the Invisible Hand" (la Main Invisible):

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• "I went in search of new ideas blowing in the wind, to try and live better on Earth in my roles as doctor and human being"
• "Consciousness is perceiving one's soul"
• "Welcome to those who believe in the power of dreams and who would like to join me in my exploration of life"
 
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